I think its important to point out that not only do gays and lesbians have less rights than their straight counterparts, but also, the children of gays and lesbians have less rights and security than the children of straight people.
The logic behind many of the tax breaks given to married couples is to benefit their children. Yet the fact that gay and lesbian headed families have to pay more taxes means there is less for college funds, baseball uniforms, vacations, or even just basic food and clothing for their children. In actuality, the children of single parents suffer the same discrimination. Gay headed and single families cannot file jointly, plus the limits where they lose benefits such as the child tax credit, tuition credits, and deductions are different.
The children of gays and lesbians are at a disadvantage compared to the children of straight and married couples for many other reasons too. Providing health insurance for their familiy can be more complicated and more expensive. If joint adoption is not allowed, the security of the children is compromised in the event of medical emergencies, the death of a parent, or a divorce. Every thing that a gay headed family must do approximate the rights of married families for the benefit of their children costs hundreds or thousands of dollars in legal fees. Again, this is money that cannot be used for the benefit of the children. I could go on and on with examples.
In many states, children of gay people face a situation where their parents can be fired from their job for being gay. Not very secure.
If people have that much problem with gay people having equal rights, they should at least be willing to give their children the same breaks as the children of straight people. If people think that by denying these rights, that gay people will not have children, they are sadly mistaken. There are thousands of stable, loving families with children headed by gay people. There will only be more as time goes on.
The crazy thing is that the people who make sure that the children of gays and lesbians have less benefits than the children of straight families claim that they do this for the benefit of children. What a crock!
Steve
of IL
@
Apr 08, 2008 20:06:50 PM
Gay's DON'T want special rights.
Thomas Bar, you may think you have a valid point, but you don't. As a heterosexual (I assume) you have the right to marry the person OF YOUR CHOOSING. Gays don't. Gay's want the same right to marry whomever they want, just like you. In terms of marriage, it's heterosexuals that have the special rights. It's as simple as that.
bma83
of MD
@
Apr 08, 2008 18:20:20 PM
Financial and other burdens faced by gays
Special rights, Mr. Bar? Many gay couples have been together, faithfully, for decades, have raised families together, shared their hopes and dreams, plan to be together "til death us do part". Yet -- after 9/11 partners of gay police and firefighters who lost their lives there had to suffer the additional pain of losing all these couples had built together, and could not secure survivors' benefits; gays have also fought and often died in every war America has waged. Yet virtually every right and responsibility afforded heterosexual couples has to be bitterly fought for by our families, at great cost in terms of legal fees and emotional stress - with no guarantee that our wills, health care proxies, partnership agreements, or dying wishes will ever be recognized or respected. You have go through discrimination to really understand how heartbreaking and impoverishing it can be. It isn't fair, it isn't just. It has to change. There is no defensible reason why our families should have to remain second class, treated with such obscene disrespect. Some of us are old enough to have worked in the civil rights movement back in the 50's and 60's. We understood then, as people should understand now, that we are not a free nation if there remains a group of citizens, who work hard and pay taxes and raise families who are not welcomed into the embrace of the constitutional guarantees that everyone else enjoys. This is not "special" treatment, Thomas, it is EQUAL treatment.
Lesley Hudson
of NY
@
Apr 08, 2008 18:07:27 PM
More special rights for Gays
Gays have the same rights that I do. Namely the right to marry one person of the opposite sex. What they want is a special right. Why not complain that we can't marry 15 other people at once? Isn't that a violation of our rights? Just more whining for special rights.
Thomas Bar
of MO
@
Apr 08, 2008 17:23:50 PM
We need our civil rights!
It's time that this great country of ours grants parity and civil liberties to gays and lesbians by allowing us to marry and to get all the benefits that heterosexual couples take for granted. It is our human right, our civil right and our moral right. Thank you to all the good people who support our plight.
Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about how to save money, avoid scams, manage debt, and be a savvy shopper. Send your personal finance questions to her for expert money advice.
Steve of IL @ Apr 08, 2008 20:06:50 PM
bma83 of MD @ Apr 08, 2008 18:20:20 PM
Lesley Hudson of NY @ Apr 08, 2008 18:07:27 PM
Thomas Bar of MO @ Apr 08, 2008 17:23:50 PM
H. Gardner of AZ @ Apr 08, 2008 15:02:54 PM
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